Fr. Andrew Hofer discusses St. Leo the Great who was pope from 440 to 461 AD. St. Leo preached extensively on the importance of almsgiving and caring for the poor, emphasizing Christ's presence in them. His teachings united doctrine and pastoral practice, encouraging both rich and poor to practice charity while recognizing the dignity and humanity of those in need. His sermons countered allegations of dehumanizing the poor, instead promoting a view of deification that perfects humanity through God's mercy and the incarnation.

This lecture was given on April 13th, 2024, at The Dominican House of Studies.

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About the Speaker:

Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., (Ph.D. Notre Dame) is professor of patristics and ancient languages at the Pontifical Faculty of the Dominican House of Studies where he serves as the director of the doctoral program. He authored Christ in the Life and Teaching of Gregory of Nazianzus (Oxford University Press, 2013) and The Power of Patristic Preaching: The Word in Our Flesh (Catholic University of America, 2023). He co-authored A Living Sacrifice: Guidance for Men Discerning Religious Life (Vianney Vocations, 2019). Editor-in-chief of the academic journal The Thomist, Hofer is editor or co-editor of several volumes including The Oxford Handbook of Deification, The Cambridge Companion to Augustine's Sermons, and Thomas Aquinas and the Greek Fathers. He enjoys speaking with students about their theological and spiritual questions.

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